Station for inserting products into box-like bodies of different types

ABSTRACT

A station for inserting products into box-like bodies of different types includes a conveyance line for box-like bodies and a conveyor belt for bundles constituted by at least one product. The station includes a handling element for a bar, the latter being provided with at least one functional unit that abuts against at least one respective bundle. The bar can move, by virtue of the action of the handling element, transversely with respect to the belt and to the line from the line toward the belt and vice versa, and at right angles with respect to the belt and to the line, along a direction away from/towards them.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a station for inserting products intobox-like bodies of different types.

BACKGROUND

In particular the use is known of two different types of shaped sheets(blanks) for providing box-like bodies that are generally parallelepipedin shape.

In some cases shaped sheets are used (which are cut according to apreset shape, generally by way of a punching process), which, followingadapted folding and gluing operations, take on the desired box-likeshape structure. In this case the shaped sheets are generally referredto as “flat sheets”.

In other cases the shaped sheets, which define the blank to be foldedfurther in order to provide the box-like body, have already beensubjected to a first operation of folding and gluing. This second typeof shaped sheets, referred to as “pre-glued”, has a tubular shapestructure and, for storage, is collapsed with respect to two mutuallyopposite edges.

Both types of shaped sheets (“flat sheets” and “pre-glued sheets”) offernumerous mutually competing advantages and therefore makers of machinesfor packaging have developed several models for operating solely withone type or the other.

The huge difference in encumbrances of “flat sheets” with respect to“pre-glued sheets” in fact determines the need to adopt very differentimplementation architectures for inserting products into the differenttypes of sheets, which translate to different elements for manipulatingthe products and/or bundles constituted by a preset plurality ofproducts.

SUMMARY

The aim of the present disclosure is to solve the above mentioneddrawbacks, by providing a station for inserting products into box-likebodies of different types which makes it possible to insert them equallyfrom the front and from above.

Within this aim, the disclosure provides a station for insertingproducts into box-like bodies of different types which requires a fewsimple change-of-format operations in order to pass from theconfiguration adapted to insert the products into a first type ofbox-like bodies to the configuration adapted to insert the products intoa second type of box-like bodies.

The disclosure provides a station for inserting products into box-likebodies of different types which is adapted to operate in associationwith a conveyance line of the box-like bodies which is actuatedinterchangeably with continuous motion and/or with alternating motion.

The disclosure also provides a station for inserting products intobox-like bodies of different types which is different from conventionalstations for inserting products into respective box-like bodies.

The present disclosure further provides a station for inserting productsinto box-like bodies of different types which is low cost, easily andpractically implemented, and safe in use.

These advantages which will become better apparent hereinafter areachieved by providing a station for inserting products into box-likebodies of different types of the type comprising a conveyance line forbox-like bodies and a conveyor belt for bundles constituted by at leastone product, characterized in that it comprises a handling element for abar provided with at least one functional unit that abuts against atleast one respective bundle, said bar being movable, by virtue of theaction of said handling element, transversely with respect to said beltand to said line from said line toward said belt and vice versa, and atright angles with respect to said belt and to said line, along adirection away from/towards them.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further characteristics and advantages of the disclosure will becomebetter apparent from the detailed description that follows of apreferred, but not exclusive, embodiment of the station for insertingproducts into box-like bodies of different types according to thedisclosure, which is illustrated by way of non-limiting example in theaccompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a station for inserting products intobox-like bodies of different types, according to the disclosure,equipped for a first type of use;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a station for inserting products intobox-like bodies of different types, according to the disclosure,equipped for a second type of use;

FIG. 3 a front view of an enlarged detail of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an enlarged detail of FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

With reference to FIGS. 1-4, the reference numeral 1 generallydesignates a station 1 for inserting products P into box-like bodies Aand B of different types.

The station 1 comprises a conveyance line 2 for box-like bodies A and Band a conveyor belt 3 of bundles X which are constituted by at least oneproduct P.

The station 1 comprises a handling element 4 for a bar 5 a, 5 b which isprovided with at least one functional unit that abuts against at leastone respective bundle X.

The bar 5 a, 5 b can move, by virtue of the action of the handlingelement 4, preferably along two separate directions: the bar 5 a, 5 bcan in fact be translated transversely with respect to the belt 3 and tothe line 2. In particular the bar can move from the line 2 toward thebelt 3 and vice versa; the bar 5 a, 5 b, furthermore, can translate atright angles with respect to the belt 3 and to the line 2. In particularthe bar can move along a direction away from/towards them (thus varying,with particular reference to the example shown in the accompanyingfigures, its height).

According to a particularly efficient embodiment, the handling element 4comprises a third degree of freedom, controlled by specific actuationsystems, for the translation of the bar 5 a, 5 b along the advancementdirection of the box-like bodies A, B on the line 2 and of the bundles Xon the belt 3.

The third degree of freedom and the corresponding actuation systems areadapted to allow the bar 5 a, 5 b to follow the box-like bodies A, B inorder to ensure that the operations to fill the box-like bodies A and Bwith the bundles X can be executed continuously.

According to an embodiment of undoubted practical and applicativeinterest, the functional units can be a plurality, arranged mutuallyside by side and distributed along the respective bar 5 a, 5 b.

More specifically, with reference to an embodiment shown purely for thepurposes of non-limiting example in the accompanying FIGS. 2 and 4, thefunctional unit can be constituted by a fixed tab 6 designed to abutagainst a face of a respective bundle X in order to impose itstranslation, moving it from the belt 3 to the line 2, into a respectivebox-like body B.

According to an alternative embodiment, safe and convenient inapplication, the at least one functional unit comprises at least onegrip element 7 which abuts, in at least one operating configuration,against the bundle X for the locking in place thereof: in practice thegrip element 7 must be adapted to grip the entire bundle X in order toenable the transfer thereof (therefore also its raising from the belt 3from which it will be taken).

It should be noted that, according to a form of execution that is simpleto implement and stable in operation, the at least one grip element 7comprises a sucker 8.

It is convenient to note that the possibility is not ruled out that thegrip element 7 could have further degrees of freedom with respect to thebar 5 a (for example rotation or translation): such further movementswould be aimed at appropriately configuring the bundles X beforeinsertion into the box-like body B.

The bar 5 a will therefore be movable between a first configuration, ofalignment with the belt 3 and juxtaposition of the at least one sucker 8against the bundle X arranged thereon, a second, raised configuration,in which the at least one sucker 8 keeps the bundle X raised withrespect to the line 2 and to the belt 3, and a third configuration, ofalignment with the line 2 and release of the bundle, by the abovementioned at least one sucker 8, into a respective box-like body Aarranged on the line 2.

In order to enable the necessary versatility of the bar 5 a, 5 b, thehandling element 4 can be coupled detachably to a bar 5 a, 5 b chosenbetween a first bar 5 b provided with at least one functional unitconstituted by at least one fixed tab 6 and a second bar 5 a providedwith at least one functional unit comprising at least one grip element7.

With regard to the coupling of the handling element 4 to the bar 5 a, inaddition to the operations necessary to its correct fixing, it may benecessary to carry out operations for wiring and/or connection of aspecific suction circuit that will serve the suckers 8. In such context,the possibility furthermore exists of connecting an optional electriccircuit in order to bring signals, or electric power, to the bar 5 a inorder to fulfill specific further functions defined by the particularapplication that it is necessary to provide.

It should be noted that, in order to allow an efficacious movement ofthe bundle X, the belt 3 can preferably comprise distributed shoulderprotrusions 9: each pair of protrusions 9 will therefore be adapted tocontain and delimit a respective bundle X.

Similarly, the line 2 can preferably comprise specific distributedprotruding teeth 10 a, 10 b.

Each pair of teeth 10 a, 10 b is adapted to contain and delimit arespective box-like body A and B.

In more detail, the line 2 will comprise at least two conveyor bands 11and 12, at least one first band 11 comprising first protruding teeth 10a for containing and delimiting a respective box-like body A of a firsttype, and at least one second band 12 comprising second protruding teeth10 b for containing and delimiting a respective box-like body B of asecond type.

Advantageously the present disclosure solves the above mentionedproblems, by providing a station 1 for inserting products P intobox-like bodies A and B of different types which makes it possible toinsert them equally from the front and from above.

Such aim is achieved thanks to the ability of the handling element 4 totranslate the bar 5 a, 5 b according to three different degrees offreedom, it therefore being possible to align the products P (whichconstitute the bundle X held thereby by way of the respective units)taken from the belt 3 with the box-like body A, B that is present on theline 2, according to the direction defined by the opening of thebox-like body A, B.

Conveniently, the station 1 requires a few simple change-of-formatoperations in order to pass from the configuration adapted to insert theproducts P into a first type of box-like bodies A, to the configurationadapted to insert the products P into a second type of box-like bodiesB.

From a merely mechanical and setup point of view, it is, in fact, asimple substitution of the bar 5 a with a bar 5 b, as describedpreviously. From the point of view of internal management of changes offormat, it is further necessary to set a different law of motion of thevarious components for actuating the handling element 4 (if there arecams it may be necessary to substitute them or modify theirorientation). If the components for actuating the handling element 4comprise servomotors, then setting the law of motion will be similarlyrapid (since the operation is managed by software alone).

Positively the station 1 can operate in association with a conveyanceline 2 of the box-like bodies A, B which is actuated interchangeablywith continuous motion and/or with alternating motion. In fact it hasbeen seen that the degree of freedom of translation, along a directionparallel to the advancement direction of the box-like bodies A, B on theline, of the bar 5 a, 5 b (ensured by the handling element 4), enablesthe bar 5 a, 5 b to follow and therefore insert products P into box-likebodies A, B in motion.

Profitably the station 1 is different from conventional stations forinserting products P into respective box-like bodies A or B.

Such conventional stations in fact do not have the versatility of thestation 1 according to the disclosure.

Advantageously the station 1 is easily and practically implemented andis low cost, and such characteristics make it safe in use.

The disclosure, thus conceived, is susceptible of numerous modificationsand variations. Moreover, all the details may be substituted by other,technically equivalent elements.

In the embodiments illustrated, individual characteristics shown inrelation to specific examples may in reality be interchanged with other,different characteristics, existing in other embodiments.

In practice, the materials employed, as well as the dimensions, may beany according to requirements and to the state of the art.

The disclosures in Italian Patent Application No. 102015000059410(UB2015A004231) from which this application claims priority areincorporated herein by reference.

1-10. (canceled)
 11. A station for inserting products into bodies ofdifferent types, of the type comprising a conveyance line for bodies anda conveyor belt for bundles constituted by at least one product,comprising a handling element for a bar provided with at least onefunctional unit that abuts against at least one respective bundle, saidbar being movable, by virtue of the action of said handling element,transversely with respect to said belt and to said line from said linetoward said belt and vice versa, and at right angles with respect tosaid belt and to said line, along a direction away from/towards them.12. The station according to claim 11, wherein said handling elementcomprises a third degree of freedom, controlled by specific actuationsystems, for the translation of said bar along the advancement directionof the bodies on said line and of the bundles on said belt, said thirddegree of freedom and the corresponding actuation systems being adaptedto follow said bodies for continuous operation.
 13. The stationaccording to claim 11, wherein said functional units are a plurality,arranged mutually side by side and distributed along said bar.
 14. Thestation according to claim 11, wherein said functional unit is a fixedtab designed to abut against a face of said bundle in order to imposeits translation from said belt to said line, into a respective body. 15.The station according to claim 11, wherein said at least one functionalunit comprises at least one grip element that abuts, in at least oneoperating configuration, against said bundle for the locking in placethereof.
 16. The station according to claim 15, wherein said at leastone grip element comprises a sucker, said bar being movable between afirst configuration, of alignment with said belt and juxtaposition ofsaid at least one sucker against said arranged bundle, a secondconfiguration, in which said at least one sucker keeps said bundleraised with respect to said line and said belt, and a thirdconfiguration, of alignment with said line and release of said bundle,by said at least one sucker, into a respective body arranged on saidline.
 17. The station according to claim 11, wherein said handlingelement can be coupled detachably to a bar chosen between a first barprovided with at least one functional unit constituted by at least onefixed tab and a second bar provided with at least one functional unitcomprising at least one grip element.
 18. The station according to claim11, wherein said conveyor belt comprises distributed shoulderprotrusions, each pair of protrusions being adapted to contain anddelimit a respective bundle.
 19. The station according to claim 11,wherein said conveyance line comprises specific distributed protrudingteeth, each pair of teeth being adapted to contain and delimit arespective body.
 20. The station according to claim 11, wherein saidconveyance line comprises at least two conveyor bands, at least onefirst band comprising first distributed protruding teeth for containingand delimiting a respective body of a first type, and at least onesecond band comprising second distributed protruding teeth forcontaining and delimiting a respective body of a second type.